Why Is My Cat Vomiting Every Day? Common Causes & What to Do

Daily vomiting in cats is not normal, and it should not be written off as “just a hairball thing.” While cats do vomit more frequently than many other pets, a cat who vomits every day — or even several times a week — is typically dealing with an underlying health condition that needs veterinary attention. The most common causes of chronic cat vomiting include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, food sensitivities, and intestinal parasites.

Is It Normal for Cats to Vomit Frequently?

This is one of the most common misconceptions in cat ownership: that vomiting is simply “what cats do.” Occasional hairballs — once or twice a month, with visible hair in the vomit — are generally considered normal. Everything else warrants a closer look.

If your cat is vomiting daily, every other day, or multiple times per week:

• It is not normal
• It is not just hairballs
• It is a symptom of something that needs to be identified

Many cats with chronic vomiting still eat, drink, and act fairly normal — which is exactly what makes this easy to miss. Cats are masters of masking illness. By the time the behavior is obvious, some underlying conditions (like kidney disease or intestinal lymphoma) are already significantly advanced.

According to Cornell’s Feline Health Center, chronic vomiting in cats is one of the most underreported symptoms in feline medicine — largely because owners don’t realize how significant it is.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Daily Vomiting in Cats?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): IBD is the most common cause of chronic vomiting in middle-aged and older cats. It occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the GI tract, causing chronic inflammation. Cats with IBD often vomit food or bile, lose weight gradually, and may have intermittent diarrhea. Diagnosis requires bloodwork, imaging, and sometimes an intestinal biopsy.

Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid gland is extremely common in cats over 10 years old. It accelerates metabolism dramatically — causing vomiting, weight loss despite a ravenous appetite, hyperactivity, and sometimes heart changes. A simple blood test measures thyroid hormone levels. The good news: hyperthyroidism is very treatable.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Kidneys filter waste products from the blood. When they’re failing, toxins build up and cause nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and increased thirst. CKD is very common in older cats and is manageable with the right support — but it requires diagnosis first.

Food Sensitivity or Intolerance: Some cats react to specific proteins or ingredients in their food. This can cause chronic vomiting that resolves once the offending ingredient is eliminated. A veterinary prescription hydrolyzed or novel protein diet trial is the gold standard for diagnosing food-responsive disease.

Intestinal Parasites: Roundworms, tapeworms, and other parasites can cause vomiting, especially in cats with outdoor access or hunting behavior. A fecal test confirms their presence.

Intestinal Lymphoma: Low-grade intestinal lymphoma is unfortunately common in older cats and can look nearly identical to IBD. It causes chronic vomiting, weight loss, and decreased appetite. It requires biopsy for diagnosis but is often manageable with oral chemotherapy and a good quality of life for many cats.

Hairballs and Motility Issues: True hairballs cause intermittent vomiting of cylindrical masses of hair. But if a cat is vomiting hair frequently, it may signal a GI motility problem (the gut isn’t moving things through properly) rather than just grooming behavior.

If your cat is vomiting every day, our team at Nado Veterinary Care can run the bloodwork and diagnostics needed to find the cause — and get your cat feeling better.

When Is a Vomiting Cat a Medical Emergency?

Chronic daily vomiting needs veterinary attention — but some situations require urgent or emergency care.

Rush to the vet immediately if your cat is:

• Vomiting blood — bright red or dark and coffee-ground-like (emergency)
• Unable to keep any water down for more than 12 hours (emergency)
• Lethargic, weak, or unable to stand (emergency)
• Showing signs of abdominal pain — hunching, guarding, crying when touched
• Not eating for more than 24–48 hours
• Showing yellow-tinged gums, eyes, or skin — this is jaundice, a serious sign (emergency)

A special note on cats and fasting: cats should never go more than 24–48 hours without eating. When a cat doesn’t eat, the body begins mobilizing fat to the liver faster than the liver can process it, causing a condition called hepatic lipidosis — fatty liver disease. This can develop quickly in overweight cats and is potentially fatal without treatment. A cat who is vomiting AND not eating needs veterinary care promptly — not watchful waiting.

For a complete guide on how to assess your cat’s vomiting at home, see: My Dog or Cat Is Vomiting — When Is It an Emergency in Coronado?

Frequently Asked Questions

My cat vomits every morning — could it be hairballs?

Morning vomiting in cats is sometimes hairballs, but often it’s bile from an empty overnight stomach — similar to bilious vomiting syndrome in dogs. If the vomit doesn’t contain hair, it’s probably not a hairball issue. Daily or near-daily morning vomiting in cats warrants bloodwork to rule out hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, or IBD.

My cat vomits but seems otherwise healthy and happy — do I still need to see a vet?

Yes. Cats are very good at masking illness. A cat who vomits frequently but still eats, plays, and seems social may have a significant underlying condition — particularly IBD, early kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism — that is simply not yet advanced enough to affect outward behavior. Early diagnosis means earlier treatment and a better outcome.

Could my cat’s food be causing the vomiting?

Absolutely. Food sensitivities and intolerances are a common cause of chronic vomiting in cats. Rapid food changes, low-quality ingredients, or specific proteins your cat’s system reacts to can all be triggers. If your vet suspects a dietary cause, they’ll typically recommend a strict elimination diet trial using a hydrolyzed or novel protein prescription food for 8–12 weeks.

How is chronic vomiting in cats treated?

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. IBD is typically managed with steroids (like prednisolone) and sometimes dietary changes or B12 supplementation. Hyperthyroidism is treated with medication, a special iodine-restricted diet, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery. Kidney disease is managed with hydration support, a kidney-friendly diet, and monitoring. Your vet will tailor a plan based on what’s actually causing your cat’s symptoms.